Another rookie cop shot

A WOMAN police officer was in a serious condition today after being shot as she investigated a burglary. Rachael Bown, a 23-year-old probationary officer, had emergency surgery after the shooting in Nottingham.

A WOMAN police officer was in a serious condition today after being shot as she investigated a burglary.

Rachael Bown, a 23-year-old probationary officer, had emergency surgery after the shooting, which happened in Nottingham shortly before midnight last night.

She and a male officer, who was not injured, had tried to stop a suspect who then opened fire.

The incident comes just months after probationer Pc Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead in November in Bradford, nine months after joining West Yorkshire Police.

Pc Bown was wearing body armour, but was still hit by a bullet in the lower abdomen. She was taken to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where her family were at her bedside.

Divisional Commander, Chief Supt Marcus Beale, said today that the two officers were searching for a male suspect at the burglary scene when the man produced a firearm and shot Rachael in the lower abdomen.

He said she had emergency surgery and added: "Thankfully, she was transferred into the intensive care unit, where she remains in a serious but, I understand, stable condition.

"This is an extremely serious incident and has been a terrible shock for her family.

"Officers are clearly very concerned about their colleague and we are committed to finding and apprehending the offender."

He said that Pc Bown was just coming to the end of her two-year probationary period and had undergone safety training.

"She was wearing body armour," he said. "Unfortunately, she was shot below where that body armour protects, which is a great shame."

Forensic

No one has been arrested, but a major investigation is under way, police said. Several scenes have been cordoned off for forensic tests.

Detective Chief Insp Tony Heydon, who is leading the hunt, said: "This is clearly a significant incident and anyone with information should contact police as a matter of urgency."

More than a dozen officers were standing guard at the property where the officer was wounded.

The road was cordoned off for more than half-a-mile as forensic teams carried out a search of the area.

Students from Nottingham University were left out on the streets as officers combed the largely-student area for clues.

Sophie Austin, 21, who lives in nearby Radford, said: "We knew this was a rough area and we know there's a risk of burglaries, and being Nottingham there's always the threat of gun crime. It's terrifying when it happens on your doorstep.

"We know students are targeted for burglaries and because of that, we know never to approach them or disturb them, but when you are a police officer, you don't have any choice."